Anime Crossover : Living in the Heart of Tokyo

"Kisaki, do you really think a girl would fall for someone because of a 'lofty' goal like becoming 'the strongest delinquent in Japan'?"

"Wouldn't she? The strongest delinquent in Japan, how cool is that!"

Kisaki Tetta said this with complete confidence, somewhat displeased by Kyousuke's teasing tone.

"I get it now, you've got a wild side, huh? After being a good student for so long, you're starting to crave a different world, huh?"

"This..." Kisaki was caught off guard by the comment.

After a moment of thinking, he realized Kyousuke might be right. But then, he quickly turned it around.

"You're the same, aren't you?"

"Hey, hey, don't even try it, Kisaki."

"How dare you say that? If I became a delinquent, it's because of you pushing me into it!"

"I'm a proper student, top of my class, aiming for Todai, never skipping class or fighting!" Kyousuke said with a righteous tone.

Kisaki stared at him, wanting to argue but unable to find the words.

It was true, Kyousuke had been pushed into becoming a delinquent by him.

As for academics, with almost perfect entrance exam scores, he was definitely the model student.

Kisaki wanted to curse someone but couldn't decide who—maybe himself?

"But if it's not because of that, why would Tachibana Hinata like someone like Hanagaki Takemichi, who has no special qualities?"

Kyousuke hadn't expected to hear the name of the famous Tachibana Hinata in this conversation.

It seemed like Kisaki and Hanagaki Takemichi were all in this together.

Damn, why couldn't Kisaki be a woman?

[TL Note - lol]

"Start from the beginning and tell me, why do you think Tachibana Hinata would like Hanagaki Takemichi for something like that?"

Kyousuke found himself unexpectedly acting as a relationship mentor.

With zero experience in romance in this life or the last, he couldn't help but find the world amusing.

So, a single guy began giving advice to another single guy.

One spoke passionately, while the other listened seriously.

Kisaki remembered the three top-tier beauties who had attended the gathering the night before.

Could it be that Kyousuke was some kind of expert in flirting with girls?

After hesitating, Kisaki decided to ask the life winner, Kyousuke, for advice.

"I've been called a prodigy since I was young."

"Back in sixth grade, I was in the same cram school as Tachibana Hinata. She admired me back then, and I ended up liking her too."

Leaning on the guardrail with his hands, Kisaki gazed at the clear blue sky, starting to tell a story buried deep in his heart that no one had ever known.

Kids these days are so mature.

Talking about liking someone in sixth grade?

Kyousuke silently complained, but then he thought of Naoka from the graduation ceremony, suppressing his desire to make another sarcastic comment, and continued listening.

"But one evening, after cram school, Tachibana Hinata was surrounded by a few middle schoolers, and then a kid wearing a white sheet came and saved her."

At this point, Kisaki slammed the guardrail with force.

"Wait, how do you know about this?"

Kyousuke noticed something odd.

"I... I saw it." Kisaki stammered.

"So, what were you doing when Tachibana Hinata was surrounded by those middle schoolers?"

"..." Kisaki covered his face with both hands.

"Were you scared?"

"How could I not be scared?"

"Back then, I was just a little elementary student, always reading books."

"How could I have the courage to step up against a bunch of middle schoolers?" Kisaki's voice trembled, as though he was back in that moment, back in that weak, fearful body.

"I hid around the corner, thinking about calling the police, trying to find an adult to help. What could I do?"

"Should I step up and take a beating like that ridiculous hero? Wait for the middle schoolers to tire out and leave?"

Kisaki raised his voice, as if defending his actions or trying to comfort himself.

"Then what happened?" Kyousuke didn't dwell on this point.

A good relationship mentor knows when to push and when to ease off.

"The next day, Tachibana Hinata came to cram school, excitedly telling me that a hero had saved her."

"Listening to her, looking into her eyes, I knew... she had been taken from me."

Kisaki's voice grew thick with emotion.

"After that day, I started following Hanagaki Takemichi."

'Wait, Kisaki, you're going a bit overboard with this!' Kyousuke thought to himself.

"I heard Hanagaki Takemichi say, 'You know, my hero is a delinquent, right? When I get to middle school, I'm going to be the top delinquent in Japan!'"

Just like you said earlier, how could any girl fall for a guy just because he wants to be the strongest delinquent?

A delinquent like that could never be a hero.

Back then, I didn't buy that either.

But Tachibana Hinata really liked Hanagaki Takemichi, the guy who wanted to be the number one delinquent, and she saw him as her hero.

At this point, Kisaki looked up, wiping away his tears. He clenched his fists.

"That's when I made up my mind. I would become Japan's strongest delinquent. If I achieve that, I'll definitely win Tachibana Hinata back!"

"Hahahahahaha~" Kyousuke couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

"You bastard, I'm going to kill you! I swear I'm going to kill you this time!"

Kisaki's face turned bright red, and he lunged at Kyousuke, grabbing him by the neck.

Of course, it was just a playful gesture.

"Hahahaha, Kisaki, you don't need to do anything, I'm going to laugh myself to death any second now." Kyousuke laughed so hard he could barely breathe.

He realized he owed Kisaki an apology.

He had thought Kisaki was a scheming, sinister guy, but it turned out he was so pure.

"Kisaki, you've been deliberately avoiding the truth, haven't you?" Kyousuke leaned his elbow on the guardrail, his back against it.

"What truth? What are you talking about?"

Kisaki was in the same position, but upon hearing Kyousuke's words, he looked uncomfortable and turned his head away.

"Tachibana Hinata didn't fall for the hero or the top delinquent. She liked the guy who saved her from the middle schoolers."

Kyousuke mercilessly revealed the truth Kisaki had been avoiding.

"That's not true! Tachibana Hinata liked Hanagaki Takemichi because he wanted to be the number one delinquent, he's a hero!"

"Kisaki, stop lying to yourself!"

"Your idea that becoming the number one delinquent would win Tachibana Hinata's heart is just you fooling yourself. You're trying to forget the truth."

"Stop it..." Kisaki slowly slid down the guardrail, sitting on the ground, burying his face in his knees.

"You want to forget the fact that when Tachibana Hinata was in danger, you didn't step up to save her."

"Instead, you hid behind, too scared to do anything. You want to forget the weak, powerless you"

Listening to Kyousuke's words, Kisaki didn't respond.

His sobs grew louder.